Cinderella and cigarettes; Overlooking human trafficking crimes

What do cigarettes and Cinderella-type movies have in common? They both come with health hazards. Obviously, watching too many Cinderella movies won’t cause lung cancer, but it can be dangerous for your emotional health and self-image.

The first skewed reality that these movies convey is that true love awaits every girl. The truth is, not everyone is meant for love. Some people who get their hopes up for true love will watch them plummet. The second corrupted truth is that romantic relationships guarantee happiness. Since the recent remakes feature teenagers in love, teenagers are vulnerable to this false reality. Even sadder, some girls think they need a boyfriend to measure their self-worth.

The search for true love and happiness propels girls into relationships prematurely. Dating is intended for people who are ready to make life-long commitments. Today, dating relationships are built on having fun while it lasts. As people go through many relationships, they inevitably become emotionally scarred, which can ruin more meaningful future relationships.

Next time a love story launches you into the clouds, know that you’ll be better off without it.

Madelaine Ku, New Providence

Overlooking crime

The time for addressing modern-day slavery is long past due, but these types of crimes do not happen in a vacuum ("Slavery surrounds us," Oct. 22).

I find it odd there is outrage over a hair-braiding salon when we ignore the reality of the so-called gentlemen’s clubs and "massage therapy" establishments cropping up everywhere, including on the main streets of many towns. These types of businesses thrive off the sweat and fear of women indentured against their will. However, we seem too willing to turn a blind eye to them.

Indeed, even The Star-Ledger has columns-long classified listings for adult massage services, on most days more numerous than the job listings for legitimate employment.